Avro Anson a stunning Airfix addition

Welcome to this latest edition of our Workbench blog and all the news, updates and modelling exclusives from the fascinating world of Airfix.

We have something of a classic blog edition for you this weekend, as we bring you an early project development overview from the final outstanding new model tooling announcement from the 2022 range, our stunning Avro Anson Mk.I in 1/48th scale. As we devote this entire 181st edition of our blog to all things Anson, we will see how this magnificent aircraft is perhaps more deserving of the ‘unsung hero’ title than any other RAF aircraft type and how despite being classed as obsolete by the start of the Second World War, it would go on to serve faithfully throughout the entire conflict and indeed, well into the post war years.

From a modeller’s perspective, we will be seeing why this fascinating aircraft will make for an irresistible addition to the Airfix range and with grateful thanks to the kit’s designer Matt, will not only be gaining an insight into everything he faced whilst immortalising this classic aeroplane as a scale plastic model kit, but be able to visualise many aspects of it, thanks to a spectacular series of CAD design images taken straight from his computer. Having caught a glimpse of test build kits on Matt’s desk during our interview (which will feature in a forthcoming update), we can confidently predict that the venerable Avro Anson is about to receive some serious modelling attention following the release of this beautiful new kit.

Before we immerse ourselves in exclusive Anson project updates, could we please just take a moment to let readers know that the second edition of ‘Sprue Talk’ will be available from this coming Sunday (20th) for your viewing (and listening via podcast) pleasure. In this second edition, team members responsible for social media and blog/content writing duties join host Mike to review several of the latest kit releases and to discuss aspects of their particular specialist roles. With two new Airfix faces under the ‘Sprue Talk’ spotlight, we hope this second edition will include something which may be of interest to you.

Mail plane turned essential RAF trainer

As one of the most advanced aircraft in the world at the time of its first flight, Avro’s new mail carrying airliner was bound to attract interest from the military and by the start of WWII, 26 RAF squadrons were equipped with the Avro Anson.

On reflection, the title selected above doesn’t really do justice to the service success and operational importance of an aircraft which many readers will probably only have a limited knowledge of, but one which is definitely deserving of more widespread recognition than it usually receives, the Avro Anson. It is certainly true that the aircraft began its development as a capable, relatively long range four passenger carrying mail transport aircraft, however, the advanced nature of the aircraft’s design would quickly bring it to the attention of Britain’s military, who could clearly see uses for such an advanced aircraft. Unfortunately, as proved to be the case with so many impressive aircraft types developed during the early to mid 1930s, aviation technology advanced at such an astonishing pace at that time, the Anson had to be rather adaptable in finding its operational niche, but find it this classic aircraft most certainly did! 

Carrying the company designation Avro 652, the aircraft which would eventually be developed into the Anson was a fast, relatively long-range, mail-carrying charter aircraft built to fulfil an Imperial Airways requirement. Powered by two Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah radial engines, the new aircraft could boast a cruising speed approaching 170mph and an impressive range of 700 miles, incorporating a host of advanced design features and appeared to be exactly what the airline was looking for.

Designed by Roy Chadwick, who would later go on to design the Manchester, Lancaster and oversee the Vulcan project, the new aircraft incorporated a welded steel tube frame fuselage construction, onto which wooden formers and a doped fabric skin could be applied. This method of construction endowed the aircraft with great strength and impressive cabin space, something which would later prove essential when the aircraft embarked on its military career. It would also incorporate a relatively recent innovation - retractable undercarriage. This was operated by a clever gearing system and manual pump handle arrangement in the cockpit, where after around 140 cycles, the main undercarriage legs would move forwards and upwards into a semi-recessed position within each engine nacelle.

From a pilot’s perspective, the view from the aircraft’s generous cockpit was exceptional and must have made the 652 a delight to fly, but as work began on the two aircraft for Imperial Airways, much more was to come for this impressive design. With construction work already underway on the two aircraft for Imperial, the Air Ministry issued proposals for a new general purpose/reconnaissance aircraft and invited Britain’s aviation companies to submit designs. After studying the specifications, Chadwick was certain that his new airliner design was close to meeting requirements and set about building their Type 652A, a military derivative of the existing mail plane design.

The first flight of the Type 652 took place at the company’s Woodford aerodrome on 7th January 1935, with the aircraft exhibiting excellent handling characteristics and generally proving to be a resounding success. The delivery of the two completed aircraft to Imperial Airways at Croydon proved to be a little more problematic, as one of the aircraft actually landed with its main wheels still retracted, due to crew error. Thankfully, due to the design of the undercarriage and the fact that quite a significant section of the wheels remained outside the nacelle, the mistake was not as bad as it could have been - aside from bent propeller tips and the red faces of the crew, the aircraft would quickly be returned to airworthy condition.

Attracting military interest

A sheep in wolf’s clothing - the Avro 652 airliner made a relatively easy conversion to military service and presented the RAF with a significant upgrade in capability. This computer rendered CAD image has been produced from the new 1/48th scale Anson Mk.I design files.  

Developing the military variant of Avro’s twin-engined mail plane would take on a new level of significance once the Air Ministry designated this as an ‘urgent’ project, requiring the Avro team to devote greater resource to the aircraft. Powered by two Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah V1 engines, militarization of the aircraft would bring the additional weight of associated military equipment, along with the installation of armament, in the form of a large manually operated dorsal turret with single Lewis gun and a fixed forward firing Vickers machine gun in the nose, operated by the pilot. The aircraft would also be given the ability to carry a modest bomb load, something which would again go on to increase its operational effectiveness.

Making its maiden flight from Woodford on 24th March 1935, the aircraft would later be flown to Gosport and the Coast Defence Development Unit, where it would be operated in a series of suitability trials with its aviation rival, the de Havilland DH89M Dominie, the military derivative of the Dragon Rapide. Emerging victorious from these trials, the Avro 652A triumphantly returned to its home airfield at Woodford to be followed quite quickly by an official Air Ministry order for 174 aircraft. With its intended use as a maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, it was decided to give Avro’s new fighting twin the name Anson, after George Anson, a former Admiral of the fleet and First Lord of the Admiralty, something which initially caused some consternation amongst RAF officials.

Production Ansons differed from the prototype aircraft as a result of some flight control concerns discovered during testing and required a re-design of the tailplane, horizontal stabilizers and rudder, modifications which did away with the balance horn. The first production aircraft also featured a modified fuselage window arrangement, replacing the original twin window layout with an impressive new fully glazed section which ran along the entire front section of the fuselage, revealing the aircraft’s structural framework. Entering Royal Air Force service with No.48 Squadron at Manston on 6th March 1936, the Avro Anson represented quite an advance in capability for the force, whilst at the same time presenting them with their first multi-engined monoplane design to see front-line service. It was also the first RAF aircraft to feature a retractable main undercarriage, making this quite an important British aviation type in a great many ways.

The Anson would immediately attract interest from several overseas air arms, who could all see various operational applications this impressive new British aircraft could perform, with general serviceability and reliability being high on their checklist of appealing features. Keen to cash in on these attractive sales opportunities, some aircraft were diverted from existing RAF orders and sent overseas, with full production forcing the company to open new manufacturing facilities in the North West of England. The RAF Anson Mk.I was equipped with a fixed forward firing .303 machine gun operated by the pilot and a single Lewis gun mounted in the manually traversed dorsal turret. It could also be equipped with a modest bomb load, something which was required by submarine hunting aircraft operated by Coastal Command and whilst there were no reports of an Anson sinking a U-Boat, their presence would keep these feared ocean hunters submerged.

The Avro Anson would claim several Luftwaffe combat casualties before it embarked on its vital career as an aircrew trainer, preparing thousands of airmen for postings to front-line squadrons.

Interestingly, during the Dunkirk evacuations, Ansons used to cover the operation came under attack by Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters, which had real difficulty engaging the slow flying British aircraft. Consistently overshooting the Ansons, they came in the sights of the aircraft’s forward firing Vickers machine gun and astonishingly, two of the Luftwaffe fighters were shot down and a third was badly damaged, with all the Ansons escaping from the engagement unscathed. Despite the fact that the RAF entered the Second World War with 26 squadrons equipped with Avro Ansons, the aircraft were basically obsolete as a fighting machine and particularly for the ones assigned to Bomber Command, they were quickly withdrawn to secondary training roles, a task for which the ‘Faithfull Annie’ was particularly well suited. As part of the Empire Air Training Scheme, many thousands of aircrew destined for service with Bomber Command were trained both in the UK and overseas, including those destined to serve in the Avro Lancaster, the mighty bomber which was produced in some of the same factories which had previously produced Ansons.

This incredibly important aircraft would go on to post a service record which eclipsed the vast majority of its contemporaries, remaining in production for an impressive seventeen years, with the final RAF example only being withdrawn from service as a station communications aircraft in 1968. With around 11,000 aircraft produced, the hope is that the release of our impressive new 1/48th scale representation of the Avro Anson Mk.I will afford this important aircraft some of the enthusiast and modelling appreciation it undoubtedly deserves, but rarely receives.

Following in the footsteps of Roy Chadwick

Avro design drawings were used in conjunction with LIDAR scan data during the design phase of the new Airfix 1/48th scale Anson Mk.I kit.

Throughout almost seven years of producing our Workbench blog, we have been extremely fortunate to be allowed a look behind the various stages of many a new model kit’s design and development, from the gathering of supporting research materials at the beginning, right though to its impending debut in the world’s model shops. Perhaps the most fascinating stage in this process for many of our readers is how our Product Design team selflessly allow us to see how they recreated their latest subjects as scale plastic model kits, sharing their travails and triumphs with sometimes unexpected honesty.

We have previously touched on the fact that in a modelling sense, the kits our designers have helped bring to market during their time with us is something they can proudly take with them throughout the rest of their lives, but when considering the history of the Avro Anson we are looking at in this edition, we started to think that perhaps there is even more to their unique involvement than initially meets the eye. As they continually strive to remain faithful to the design of the original aircraft (in this particular case), are they in some small way actually connected to the work of the original designer, carrying on their work, but just in a scale sense?

Taking the design of an aircraft which in this case was on the Avro drawing boards in Manchester over 85 years ago, does using this information to produce an accurate 1/48th scale representation of the same information make our designer somehow linked with the aircraft itself? We feel certain that Mr Chadwick would have been just as fascinated as we are to see what our Design Manager Matt Whiting has done with his beloved Avro Anson design, particularly when he hears that our scale variant will be produced in quantities which will eventually outstrip those of the real aircraft.

Unusually for this project review, a recent Head Office visit gave us the opportunity to speak with Matt in person, whilst he was at his desk working on this and two other ongoing design projects (still top secret at present), surrounded by partly built models, test frame samples and a host of Airfix model paraphernalia which proved to be most distracting for us. It was a real treat to be able to conduct this interview in real-time, particularly as Matt could access the relevant files on his computer to illustrate the points he was describing. It also gave us a real appreciation of just how powerful the design software is that our design team use, as there was seemingly no end of views, angles and hidden details Matt could show us, even though he told us that they only use a fraction of its capability - just the bits they actually need! 

Airfix fans of recent years will be only too familiar with Matt’s work, as he has been responsible for designing many of the kits which now delight modellers in their thousands the world over, from projects such as the Handley Page Victor, to the recently released de Havilland Chipmunk. He has also been the star of many a previous edition of our blog, as he guided us through some of the many projects he has been involved with, helping to give us some indication of what it takes to be an Airfix product designer, although it has to be said, he usually makes it sound much less challenging a role than it must actually be.

The only place to start with a project review feature such as this is right back at the beginning, so our first question had to be, ‘When did you start working on the Anson and what information were you presented with?

Matt informed us that he opened his Anson design file back at the start of January 2021 and as he was allowed to familiarise himself with the project and arrange his research details, he knew he had the benefit of LIDAR scan data for this latest undertaking. He went on to tell us that much of the Anson design work was undertaken during the time of pandemic restrictions and how the team were incredibly lucky in obtaining their Anson scan data. They had arranged to scan the aircraft which is on display at the Imperial War Museum Duxford and as it transpired, this work was completed just one week before the country went into full lockdown - how lucky were we?

The start of the Anson project, these scan files feature the aircraft on display at IWM Duxford and even though it does exhibit several modifications Matt couldn’t use, it still proved invaluable during the design phase.

These frame drawings allowed Matt to accurately plot the internal details of the Anson, ensuring the new kit is a faithful scale representation of this famous aircraft.

A CAD screenshot which perfectly illustrates how Matt used the drawing information to create these design files which would form the basis of his new Anson model kit.

Matt could begin his Anson design work knowing that he had LIDAR scan data to refer to, but due to the national situation and widespread museum closures, it would be many months before he could go to Duxford himself to inspect the aircraft and take photographic records of any elements of the aircraft’s design he was a little unsure about.

Despite the fact that much of his Anson project design work was completed during times of widespread worldwide restrictions, with Matt actually working from home for long periods, he told us that none of these unusual situations resulted in project delays, although he was fortunate to make the acquaintance of a rather special group of people on the other side of the world. He told us that had it not been for the invaluable assistance of the good people at the Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre in Victoria, Australia and Mr John Deckert in particular, he really would have struggled to obtain some of the more detailed aspects of Anson design he needed confirmation of during the design phase.

Nhill airfield was an important training base for Allied airmen during the Second World War and the team at the Heritage Centre established there were determined to commemorate the valuable contribution the airfield made to the war effort by obtaining and restoring an Avro Anson. This project has been ongoing for several years now and is actually nearing completion, so the engineers at the facility have an unequalled knowledge of all things Anson design and manufacture, something Matt was able to access on several occasions as he was working on his scale kit design. He told us that this support proved invaluable in keeping his own Anson project on track and how he would love Workbench readers to check their site to find out a little more about the team and their 1:1 scale Avro Anson restoration project, one which is now approaching a triumphant unveiling event. He also wanted us to formally thank them again for their tremendous support over the past few months.

Scan data - the pros and cons

Beginning to take shape - this design progress screenshot is already looking Anson-like and shows how Matt meticulously began adding surface detail, before turning his attention to the interior.

The heading above appears to suggest that the LIDAR scanning of a new model project may not be the design benefit it may at first appear to be, however, Matt pointed out that as long as you have done your research and you know exactly what you are looking at, you shouldn’t get caught out and you will know exactly where you will need to deviate from sections of the scan. Many aircraft which are being prepared for museum display may not exactly reflect the variant of aircraft you are intending to re-create in scale form and in some cases, have a number of details which are non-standard and may even use the parts taken from several different airframes. If a designer were to follow the scan data to the letter, without checking if the aircraft had been altered in any way, this could lead to problems and even a project overrun, but as long as you are aware of any discrepancies, these can relatively easily be addressed using their skill and experience, in conjunction with the powerful design software the team has access to.

In the case of the Anson, the aircraft enjoyed such a long service life that it is entirely possible that any preserved example may have benefitted from successive service upgrades and perhaps even the addition of non-standard components and equipment. Matt made sure he was fully aware of all these differences before assessing the scan data, so he knew which areas he could trust and those which would be in need of his design attentions. Apparently, Duxford’s Anson was used as an aerial photograph platform and has been fitted with a different nose and upgraded metal tailplane, both modifications which would not have been standard on Matt’s Mk.1 variant. As you can see from the images used throughout this feature, Matt had to use his experience and design software skills to alter the nose design of his kit CAD files, deviating from the scan data to ensure the Mk.1 variant was modelled accurately.

More Anson technical drawings, this time showing the rear fuselage assembly and tail wheel.

A truly fascinating image which shows a combination of scan data, original drawing and sections of missing information which Matt had to include during the design phase of this project.

Knowing the scan data from the Duxford Anson was incorrect for the variant Matt was designing, he deviated from this section of the scan and used his design skills to represent the correct profile for a Mk.I nose.

At this point, Matt showed us a selection of truly fascinating images on his computer screen, sections of the design where he had overlayed scan data, original drawings and his design files on the same screenshot, illustrating not only how accurate his design is to the original shape of the aircraft, but also where he had to deviate from the scan data and design sections of the model using plans, so he could obtain the correct profile. The image attached here shows a combination of the scanned Duxford Anson tailplane section, which has been overlayed with original Avro plans and Matt’s design shapes, or more specifically, where he had to deviate from the scan and fill in areas of missing information - really interesting stuff.

As we have covered several times in previous blog project reviews, the LIDAR scan data allows the designer to create his exterior skeleton model with a high degree of certainty that his shape and dimensions are accurate, but how this point marks the stage where his real design work begins - internal detailing and the design of individual kit parts. Splitting the design into sections, all the internal detail and exterior surfacing work now has to be done, whilst always conscious of the fact that your end design goal is to produce several tooling blocks to be used in the manufacture of a scale model aircraft kit, bound by the constraints of current plastic injection moulding technologies. 

It was interesting to hear Matt describe how he thought the current level of design and manufacturing accuracy allows model designers to almost replicate how the real aircraft was actually designed, manufactured and constructed, particularly when working in slightly larger scales. The construction booklet could almost be a representation of the assembly process of an Avro Anson in the mid 1930s.

New Airfix Avro Anson - A designer’s perspective

A fascinating CAD screenshot showing the internal structure of the new Anson kit’s design and all that fantastic internal detail.

When producing these designer interviews for our Workbench audience, we do always try to uncover new information wherever possible, however, there are those questions which simply have to be asked, no matter how many times you have used them previously. One such question is, ‘What aspects of the new Avro Anson kit’s design (if any) did you find the most challenging?’

Matt informed us that for this particular subject, the length of time the Anson remained in service provided the most challenges, because during its impressive service career, this aircraft was used to perform many different roles, with its high level of serviceability resulting in a great many examples benefitting from upgrade of both airframe and equipment. Indeed, Ansons proved so effective in many roles that individual airframes could have been used across several of these different roles during their lengthy service careers, with each role coming with a slightly different equipment fit. As arguably one of the less fashionable aircraft types of the wartime era, there does appear to be less information available to confirm such details, something which a designer must have access to during any new tooling project, if he is to correctly replicate the aircraft. 

This situation was made worse by the fact that many Anson archives were destroyed during a devastating fire at Avro’s Chadderton factory in the late 1950s, meaning that those plans which do survive are often quite jealously guarded. In tackling the Anson Mk.I, Matt knew that almost 7,000 of this one variant were eventually produced, so therefore he would have to incorporate several build options into his design, reflecting the various upgrades and equipment fits Anson Mk.I airframes may have exhibited during their service lives. Again using his design files to illustrate the point, he showed us how the Anson Mk.I could feature one of three different wing configurations during its production life, in addition to two distinctly different canopy/windscreen designs, all of which had to be incorporated into his design.

Detailed view of an Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah engine, just one of the challenges facing Matt as he produced his scale tribute to this aviation classic.

This colourful CAD screenshot shows just how effectively Matt managed to replicate the engine and perhaps more importantly, how in kit form, it interacts with the other parts during construction.

The same design files can be used to produce these appealing rendered images, with this one opened up to reveal port side engine nacelle details.

Although not showing these details at this time, we also had the opportunity to view the first test frame components from this tooling project during our discussions, in addition to handling several part-built and one fully built model using these parts and we are pleased to report that they really are rather impressive. The wing surface detail is a work of art and Matt has somehow managed to make these plastic components appear as if the outer skin is resting on the rib and spar structure beneath, dipping slightly in the square sections between the wing skeleton. We know this is difficult to visualise, but believe us, it looks great and we look forward to bringing you these details in a forthcoming update.

In addition to this, the new kit benefits from two distinctly different canopy types, one sloping and one much more upright and you might well imagine for a kit in this scale, they are both impressively large, single piece units. Requiring a separate tooling of their own, these clear canopy parts must have caused Matt a few problems simply due to the size and depth of the pieces and how they would have to be machined at the tooling production stage. Whatever he did, they look fantastic and just as the real aircraft afforded its pilots a superb field of vision, the large windscreen will eventually allow us to see all that delicious detail included inside our built Avro Anson models. In fact, it has to be said that the new Anson Mk.I kit includes a particularly impressive selection of clear parts, with this clear frame being larger and more impressive than any other kit we have seen. 

With the glazed sections allowing so much of the impressive interior detail to be viewed, this will surely become one of the best loved features on this new Avro Anson Mk.I kit.

Our final question to Matt was, ‘What particularly pleased you from an Anson design perspective and what do you think modellers will most appreciate?’

Matt’s answer was instantaneous and unequivocal - internal detail. Even though the Anson was rather swiftly withdrawn from front-line Bomber Command roles at the start of the Second World War, it quickly showed itself to be crucial for the training of aircrew across most flight disciplines, from multi-engined pilot trainer to air gunnery platform. With that in mind, the aircraft would go on to provide training support for thousands of wartime aircrews and the addition of specialist equipment would be essential in enabling the RAF to benefit from a constant supply of trained crews for operational deployment. When looking at the rather generous, box-like fuselage to the extremely reliable Anson, you can’t help but imagine that this period of an aircrew’s service can’t have been all that bad and on good weather days, the view from this aircraft must have been magnificent.

Getting back to Matt and his design challenges, the various Anson internal equipment fits had to be fully researched and replicated within his design and this replication of internal fitting detail was something he found particularly rewarding. He hopes that this detail and the fact that you will be able to see most of it once the model is constructed, will provide the new Anson kit will real character, making it a popular subject with modellers and throwing the spotlight away from combat aircraft and onto one which was crucial in training the crews which would go on to fly offensive missions with front-line squadrons.

Inspired by the training prowess of the Avro Anson Mk.I, Matt was keen to ensure that his new scale representation of the aircraft would include as much internal detail as he could accurately include.

Matt showed us this screenshot to illustrate the internal detail point and we agree that it looks mightily impressive.

A computer rendered image detailing the cockpit and cabin sections of the new model, hugely impressive, especially when considering this model is still in its development phase.

Another render, this time showing the design work from a front starboard direction.

In addition to all the radio equipment and numerous instrumentation panels replicated, Matt informed us that the Anson Mk.I kit also includes such internal details as a fuel selector panel, bomb switch panel, cockpit breach for the forward firing Vickers machine gun, the flap actuator pump unit behind the pilot's seat and a selection of stowage boxes throughout the cabin. The navigator’s table features a scale representation of his lamp and to stop his pencils rolling all over the place during flight, there is even a little pen holder - they really did think of everything in those days and Matt has beautifully replicated this detail in all its scale glory.

With the interior of the Avro Anson’s cabin being a familiar environment for so many air and ground crews over the years, Matt desperately wanted to ensure he accurately replicated their former working environment so it would be instantly familiar to them, even though it was scaled down somewhat. He was also keen to give modellers a greater appreciation of why the ‘Faithfull Annie’ was viewed with so much affection by the very many people who came into contact with the aircraft during her service career and those which continued flying afterwards.

Without doubt, Matt’s design is a faithful representation of this classic aeroplane, from the intricate fuselage framework assembly, to the incredible level of internal detail this kit can boast and using the extensive glazed fuselage sections the aircraft featured, has ensured that much of this interior detail will remain visible after construction. Modellers often tell us at the shows we attend that they love the impressive detail our latest kits manage to incorporate and how they wish they could see more of it once the model is completed. Well, you will have to problem on that score, should you decide to build Matt’s new Avro Anson Mk.I kit, as there will be internal detail galore with which to woo your family and friends, something which will surely make this a future modelling favourite.

Just to finish off our interview, we asked Matt what he was working on now and what, if any, his design project preferences were. He told us that as is usually the case for him and the other experienced designers in the team, he has three projects currently on the go, with each one being at a different stage in its design and development. Obviously, we are not at liberty to tell you what the other two projects Matt is working on at the moment, but you can rest assured that he will be back in no time at all to give us all the details behind these future kit additions to the Airfix range.

As for his favoured subject matter, Matt loves to work on Second World War related projects, partly because they are so historically fascinating, but also because they are usually familiar to so many people, allowing him to play his own small part in preserving that history.

A final selection of development images, with this one showing Matt’s representation of the Anson’s Armstrong Whitworth AW38 manually operated ‘Glass House’ dorsal turret.

These final two images show full CAD rendered images showing the two distinctly different windscreen designs, one sloping, with the later design sitting further back and at a much steeper angle.

Having previously designed our 1/48th scale Bristol Blenheim, Matt hopes that the new Avro Anson Mk.I kit will sit perfectly next to an aircraft with which it shares so much, helping to tell the story of two 1930s British aircraft types which were ground-breaking in so many ways, yet never really receive the accolades which they surely deserve. Having seen built samples of both kits in the Airfix office, we think he has done a superb job in this regard and in this slightly larger scale, both models look truly magnificent, possessing real presence within any collection of build models.

We would like to thank Matt for this fascinating Anson design insight and also for furnishing us with the fabulous selection of development images we have been able to show our readers this week. Your Anson is an absolute beauty and as promised, we didn’t let anything slip about the other two ‘secret’ projects we noticed during our discussions. Having said that, Airfix fans have got so much to look forward to in the years to come!

That’s all we have for you in this latest edition of Workbench, but we will be back as usual next Friday with more modelling news, updates and exclusive imagery from the fascinating world of Airfix. If you have any comments in connection with the blog, or would like to suggest a subject to be covered in a future edition, please do drop us a quick line using our workbench@airfix.com e-mail address. The Airfix team would be only too pleased to hear from you.

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The Airfix Workbench Team